MAF’s Cessna Caravan fleet becomes carbon neutral thanks to partnership with Textron Aviation and 4Air
MAF International’s fleet of 31 Cessna Caravans are now carbon neutral thanks to Textron’s SustainableAdvantage program, offsetting carbon emissions for its global humanitarian aid flights in collaboration with 4AIR.
MAF’s offsets will directly fund a verified cookstove project in Madagascar, linking aviation sustainability to global health and poverty alleviation
CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA / ASHFORD, UK – Global humanitarian charity Mission Aviation Fellowship International has joined Textron Aviation’s SustainableAdvantage program, powered by aviation sustainability leader 4AIR, to fully offset carbon emissions of its Cessna Caravan aircraft fleet. MAF flights transport non-profit, mission and humanitarian organizations to deliver aid, medical care and disaster relief to remote and isolated communities.
Aircraft are critical to MAF’s mission to save and enhance life in communities where ground access is impractical or impossible. Through the SustainableAdvantage program, these MAF flights will be carbon neutral – a commitment which demonstrates the organisation is as dedicated to environmental stewardship as it is to humanitarian aid.
Donovan Palmer, MAF International CEO:
“MAF’s aim is to use our flights to bring life-saving opportunities to some of the world’s most isolated communities, Those we serve understand the importance of protecting the environment – both to preserve their heritage and secure future livelihoods. We are proud to be part of an initiative that will respect the values of isolated communities and support MAF’s own environmental aims. This carbon offsetting plan is a key, early step in our long-term strategy to reduce carbon emissions in proportion to our flying by up to 30 per cent by 2035.”
MAF International’s fleet consists of 31 Cessna 208 aircraft, the majority being the Grand Caravan manufactured by Textron Aviation. These aircraft were chosen for their rugged design, ability to operate in remote areas with extreme weather changes, and capability to land on water, in jungle clearings and on rough airstrips.
In 2024, Textron Aviation launched its SustainableAdvantage program with 4AIR to offer an easy path for Cessna, Beechcraft and Hawker aircraft owners to mitigate carbon emissions from their flights. As part of its ProAdvantage support services, the Textron program offers owners the ability to offset 100% of their carbon footprint with 4AIR’s Bronze Level.
Kriya Shortt, Senior Vice President, Textron Aviation Global Parts and Distribution:
“At Textron Aviation, we are committed to supporting our customers in the work that matters most to them. MAF enrolling their Caravan fleet in our SustainableAdvantage program is a powerful example of how aviation can be a force for good – connecting people, delivering aid and doing so responsibly. We are honored our aircraft and sustainability solutions help enable their mission, and it’s a reminder that whether in commercial or humanitarian operations, we all have a part to play in building a more sustainable future.”
The program connects MAF to 4AIR – the first provider of comprehensive sustainability solutions for business and general aviation. 4AIR offers a sustainability framework that easily allows fleets of all sizes – from solo pilots to large corporate flight departments – to offset their emissions through a portfolio of verified carbon offset projects. Carbon offsets reduce emissions elsewhere, which can be claimed against the carbon emissions from operating aircraft.
Through the Textron and 4AIR SustainableAdvantage program, MAF has selected to offset its aircrafts’ carbon footprint by supporting a project that delivers cookstoves in Madagascar. By distributing efficient cooking stoves to rural households, these communities no longer need to prepare meals over open flames – often inside their homes – a practice that leads to respiratory illnesses and heart problems.
This issue disproportionately affects women and children. The cookstove project reduces firewood consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, conserves forests and woodlands, saves families hours of time collecting firewood, and, importantly, improves the health conditions of their homes due to improved indoor air quality.
Nancy Bsales, Chief Operating Officer of 4AIR:
“We are thrilled to support MAF International’s sustainability goals through our partnership with Textron. This partnership shows how easy it is for every aircraft operator to achieve meaningful emission reductions. Through programs such as the cookstove project, we can help MAF International make a positive impact on the health of communities in Madagascar, improve air quality, and continue its mission of providing necessary services to those in need.”
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Notes to Editor
About Mission Aviation Fellowship Millions of people cannot access basic medical care, clean water, food or education, simply because it’s too dangerous or time-consuming to reach them. Mission Aviation Fellowship provides flights and technology solutions to over 1,500 aid, development and mission organisations so the world’s remotest communities can access the essentials they need to survive. Every six minutes, a MAF aircraft takes off or lands somewhere in 24 countries around the world, flying lifesaving help to some of the remotest places on earth.
A collection of images is available here (please credit MAF)
For further details visit www.maf.org.au.
About 4AIR:
4AIR is an aviation industry pioneer offering sustainability solutions beyond just simple carbon neutrality. Its innovative framework provides turnkey voluntary sustainability programmes available by the hour, and its full-service compliance programme helps set environmental regulatory obligations on autopilot. From verified carbon offsets and removals to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), contrail mitigation and new technologies, 4AIR has a framework in place to comprehensively support all pillars of aviation sustainability. For further details, visit www.4air.aero.
Media Enquiries
Interviews available with MAF aviation experts or with representatives from Textron & 4AIR on request:
Eleanor Rivers, MAF Australia
Email: [email protected]